Delhi Police Deploy 1,200 Officers at Jantar Mantar Ahead of CJP Parliament March
Delhi Police heavily fortified Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas on Sunday night, deploying over 1,200 security personnel and imposing prohibitory orders to block a planned march to Parliament by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday.
The security crackdown followed a massive surge in crowds at the Jantar Mantar protest site. The gathering grew rapidly after activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 20-day hunger strike was disrupted on Saturday when police moved him to Safdarjung Hospital. By Sunday night, the protest site was packed with tents of hunger-striking students and supporters.
To prevent protesters from marching toward Parliament, the Delhi Police set up barricades, deployed riot control vehicles, and positioned reserve forces and paramilitary battalions. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed across the area.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke addressed the gathering on Sunday night, stating that Monday’s march would be the largest Independent India has seen. Dipke urged the crowd to remain peaceful, citing advice from Sonam Wangchuk. He instructed supporters to carry the Indian flag, copies of the Constitution, roses, or pictures of B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, and to report any troublemakers to volunteers.
CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya stated that the group expected around one lakh people to join the march, which was scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM on Monday. Dahiya added that while the CJP invited all political parties to join, some protesters would remain behind to protect the Jantar Mantar site.
However, Delhi Police officials confirmed that the CJP did not seek permission for the march. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma stated that strict security measures were in place due to the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
DCP Sharma warned that anyone violating the prohibitory orders would face prosecution under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police sources indicated that officers would stop protesters before they could cross the Parliament Street police station, which is located just meters from the Jantar Mantar protest site.
In addition to the Jantar Mantar deployment, local police stations manned Delhi's borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, as farmer organisations were also expected to participate in the CJP's march.
